Man forced to play gong around 13 villages as wife didn't cast vote in Sarpanch's favour; 52 people booked

Pic Courtesy: ANI

Angul: A man in Odisha's Ragudiapada village knew little that he would face a tough time over his wife's refusal to cast a vote in a strongman's favour. 

Dushyanta Sahu, husband of ward member Mallika Sahu, was punished by a kangaroo court to beat a gong around 13 villages as his wife did not cast her vote in favour of a Nayab Sarpanch candidate.

He was spotted by some villagers while he was moving around the villages.

"My wife is a member of No. 8 ward under Badakera panchayat. As she did not cast her vote in favour of Nayab sarpanch, I was asked to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000 or move around the 13 villages of the Panchayat admitting my mistake. This was decided in a meeting of villagers held in the Badakera Panchayat on Thursday. I am a poor man having no resources. I could not stand up against so many people so I am undergoing the punishment," Dushyanta was quoted as saying by ANI.

Later, some of the villagers informed the police about the incident, who rescued the man.

A police complaint has been filed against 52 villagers including the Gram Pradhan and the Secretary.